Hummingbirds, or “humbling birds” as Eberle would have it, are a common visitor here in the summer months. I’ve never been positive about this, but based on the range given in bird guidebooks, I suspect they’re Calliope Hummingbirds—a nice name!
We do feed them, & Eberle’s the usual hummingbird feeder—for unknown reasons she tends to the hummingbird feeder while I usually take care of the seed-type feeders—just happened that way. She has found that when the feeder is empty, the hummingbirds will start flying around her when she’s working in the garden, & I’ve noticed since she’s been gone that if a hummingbird is flying up to the kitchen window or the front door, the feeder is no doubt empty. They have us pretty well trained.
Just before Eberle left on her trip, she got some cool pix of a hummingbird at the feeder, & also something you don’t see too often—the hummingbird resting in a tree. Can you find him/her in the pic at the top? The solution is at the bottom of the page!
et voilà!
I am utterly useless when it comes to "spotting" something in a picture. These are nice shots though and I CAN see the one at the feeder, at least.
ReplyDeleteI can't seem to attract them in my yard for very long.
Right now I have a flock of marauding grackles who have polished off all the seed in a brand new feeder. I've tried banging a wooden spoon against a metal bowl, but they keep swooping back in to steal the goods.
Kat
Hi Kat:
ReplyDeleteWe don't have much problem with grackles; the red-winged blackbirds & the cowbirds are pretty dominant, but the sparrows & other birds do get in. The finches really like the thistle seed, & the bigger birds don't tend to compete for that.
If you enlarge that last pic you should be able to see where I circled the hummingbird.
Great pictures. I think I have only ever seen a hummingbird once - visiting relatives on the British Virgin Islands - but I fell in love with them at first glance.
ReplyDeleteFunny you should post this, because we just came in from the patio where we were admiring our pretty little hummingbirds.
ReplyDeleteSame with us, and I'm not sure why. I do the hummingbird feeders and WT does the bird seed. Just because.
Never seen a humming bird , John, would love to though.Old bread thrown in our garden gets only crows, magpies and starlings.Nothing really exciting, though I am intersted in crows, I don't know why?
ReplyDeleteWe used to feed the hummingbirds until we planted Trumpet Vines; now we no longer need to feed them. This year, we planted a mix of wildflowers that are supposed to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, and it really does. We've had more of them than ever before. I love to watch and hear them hover.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the pics! I can never catch them.
Hi Alan, Willow, TFE & Karen:
ReplyDeleteAlan: I never thought about that--guess they're not a British Isles bird. They're rather common in the States in the summer months, but still kind of magical for all that.
Willow: They're fun to watch, aren't they? & "Just because" is a good answer!
TFE: I actually love to watch crows & magpies especially. We have a fair number of them around here, especially in the fall thru early spring. Up in the mountains you see them year round.
Karen: Yes, they go to various flowers, too, but in our case we can't see the hummingbirds feeding at the flowers too well from inside the house. The feeder is strategically located for viewing thru the kitchen window.
I had to go to your cheater pic to find the hummingbird, I'm afraid. We get lots of hummingbirds here, as well - mostly migrating through, but I gather we have some permanent residents, as well. I love watching them and listening to their buzz. They are quarrelsome little things, though.
ReplyDeleteAs to "humbling birds," my little grandson was talking about mopping birds recently. (mockingbirds) LOL
ReplyDeleteHi Sandra & Karen
ReplyDeleteSandra: My impression based on watching feeders & birds in general is that birds are generally a bit quarrelsome--but you're right, hummingbirds are pretty feisty.
Karen: I love "mopping bird!"